Preliminary Findings and Investigation
's preliminary assessment suggests a fire, possibly due to leaking fuel, caused its Starship to break apart shortly after liftoff, sending flaming debris near the .
The company has pledged to conduct a comprehensive investigation in collaboration with the (FAA) to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Launch Details and Aftermath
The Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket globally, launched from . It successfully returned its booster to the pad but lost communication with the spacecraft 8.5 minutes into the flight as engines shut down sequentially.
Eyewitnesses near the Turks and reported dramatic visuals of spacecraft debris and fireballs, necessitating diversions for flights in the vicinity.